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To stream a rain video continuously, add it to an OBS scene as a looping Media Source, connect OBS to a YouTube live stream with its server URL and stream key, and keep the Windows PC awake and connected to the internet. Test the stream before making it public. One important limitation: YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; its guidance does not promise a complete automatic archive for one continuous 24-hour stream.
Before you start
- A YouTube channel with live streaming enabled. The channel must be verified and must not have had a live-streaming restriction in the preceding 90 days. First-time activation can take up to 24 hours, so enable it before the day you plan to start. YouTube’s encoder setup guidance covers eligibility and activation.
- OBS Studio installed on your Windows PC. YouTube identifies OBS as free, open-source encoder software; OBS recommends its Auto-Configuration Wizard to account for your intended use, hardware, and network conditions. OBS Quick Start Guide
- A local rain-video file. OBS Media Source supports formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM. OBS Media Sources
- A stable internet connection with sustained upload capacity appropriate for your chosen resolution and bitrate.
Set up a looping rain video in OBS
- Run the Auto-Configuration Wizard. Open OBS and use the wizard to configure streaming settings for your computer and network. Treat its result as a starting point, not a substitute for testing your actual connection.
- Create a scene. In the Scenes panel, add a scene for the rain broadcast.
- Add the video file. In Sources, select the add control, choose Media Source, create or select a source, and browse to your local rain video.
- Enable looping. In the Media Source properties, turn on Loop. OBS will replay the file when it reaches the end. Adjust the source in the preview so the video fits the canvas as intended. The Media Sources documentation describes Media Source behavior and supported formats: OBS Media Sources.
- Check the audio intentionally. If the recording includes rain sound, watch the OBS audio meters while previewing it and confirm the intended audio is audible. OBS enables desktop-audio and microphone capture by default in its standard setup. Remove or disable any capture source you do not want, so the broadcast does not unexpectedly include room sound, microphone input, or unrelated system audio. OBS Quick Start Guide
- Save the scene and test playback. Let the video play through the transition where it loops. Check that the picture restarts cleanly and that the audio does not become silent, abrupt, or unexpectedly doubled.
Connect OBS to YouTube
- In YouTube Studio, open Go Live and create a stream or select one you have already set up. Follow YouTube’s current encoder setup flow: YouTube encoder setup.
- Copy the stream’s Live server URL and stream key from YouTube Studio into OBS’s stream settings. The stream key identifies where the encoder sends its feed and allows YouTube to accept it. Treat it like a password: do not show it on screen or share it. If it is exposed, replace it in YouTube Studio and update OBS with the new key. See YouTube’s stream settings guidance.
- Start streaming in OBS. Check the Live Control Room preview and wait for YouTube to receive the feed before starting or publishing the live event in YouTube Studio, as applicable to the stream setup you chose.
Choose resolution, bitrate, and keyframe settings
YouTube recommends testing upload bitrate and choosing a quality your connection can sustain. For H.264, its current encoder guidance recommends these example bitrates at 30 fps:
| Output | YouTube-recommended H.264 bitrate | Practical consideration |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p at 30 fps | 14 Mbps | Use only if your sustained upload can support it reliably, with room for connection variation. |
| 720p at 30 fps | 8 Mbps | A lower-bandwidth option if the connection cannot reliably sustain the 1080p recommendation. |
These are YouTube recommendations, not a guarantee that a particular home connection will hold the bitrate without drops. Test the real upload connection and reduce resolution or bitrate if stream health degrades. YouTube’s settings guidance specifies CBR (constant bitrate), recommends a 2-second keyframe interval, and says not to exceed 4 seconds. Apply the settings in OBS’s output and video configuration, then verify them in a test stream. YouTube live encoder settings.
Test the broadcast and keep it running overnight
- Before a public broadcast, run a test for a few minutes; an unlisted stream is one option. OBS recommends testing, and YouTube recommends monitoring stream health. OBS Quick Start Guide · YouTube encoder settings
- Check the YouTube Live Control Room preview for the correct video, framing, and audible rain sound. Watch for warnings or deteriorating stream health before relying on a long run.
- Keep OBS open, the PC powered, and the internet connection active. Adjust the Windows power settings available on your version so the computer does not sleep during the planned broadcast; menu labels vary by Windows version.
- Monitor the stream during operation when possible. A local encoder depends on the PC and its network continuing to run; a power interruption, sleep state, OBS failure, or internet outage can interrupt the feed. A UPS may help with brief power loss to the PC and network equipment, but it does not prevent internet outages or guarantee continuity.
Plan for YouTube’s 12-hour archive limit
YouTube’s encoder setup page says: “All streams under 12 hours will be automatically archived.” That statement applies to streams shorter than 12 hours; it does not promise that one continuous 24-hour stream will be saved as one complete automatic replay. YouTube encoder setup
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If retaining the full rain video matters, plan for that separately rather than assuming the 24-hour live broadcast will become a complete replay. YouTube recommends checking the integrity of a local archive and confirming that the local archive file continues to grow. You can also plan shorter broadcast sessions, then verify current YouTube behavior and your archive before relying on it. YouTube live stream troubleshooting and archive guidance
Single video loop or playlist?
For one rain recording, a looping Media Source is the straightforward option. If you want multiple files to play as a playlist, OBS’s VLC Video source can loop a playlist. VLC must be installed; a 64-bit OBS installation requires 64-bit VLC. OBS Media Sources
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Or let it run in the cloud
If you do not want your Windows PC and home connection to carry the broadcast, StreamNeo runs uploaded videos as a 24/7 YouTube stream from the cloud. Upload the recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. The computer at home does not need to stay on; the uploaded video streams as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot, and StreamNeo automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. The monthly option is $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo for details. Start your free first day with StreamNeo.
Troubleshoot common problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube does not receive a feed | The stream URL or key is missing, incorrect, or no longer current; live access may not yet be enabled. | Confirm channel eligibility and activation, then copy the current server URL and key from YouTube Studio into OBS. Keep the key private. |
| The stream drops, buffers, or shows poor health | The connection cannot sustain the configured bitrate, or the local PC/network is interrupted. | Run an upload test, lower bitrate or resolution if needed, and check that the PC remains awake and connected. |
| The rain video stops at the end | Loop is not enabled on the Media Source. | Open that source’s properties and turn on Loop; test the end-to-start transition. |
| Rain audio is missing or unwanted sounds are audible | The media audio is not reaching the intended output, or desktop/microphone capture remains active. | Watch OBS audio meters during playback, check the media source’s audio, and disable capture sources you do not intend to broadcast. |
| A full-day replay is missing or incomplete | The automatic archive expectation exceeds YouTube’s stated under-12-hour rule. | Do not assume a continuous 24-hour stream is archived as one complete replay. Plan a local archive or shorter sessions and verify the saved recording. |
Copyright and channel rules still apply
A rain video being prerecorded does not make it exempt from YouTube’s rules. Use footage and audio you created or are licensed to use for this kind of broadcast, and check YouTube’s copyright and reused-content policies before streaming. A video can be technically configured correctly in OBS and still trigger a rights claim or channel-policy issue. Review YouTube’s live-streaming requirements and its current copyright guidance before going live.
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